Veteran NFL Coach Andy Reid to Exit Kansas City Chiefs After 2024 Season
Andy Reid, the esteemed head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, is set to conclude his tenure with the team by the end of the 2024 season, rounding out what will be a 12-season stint since his start in 2013. Entering his 26th season as an NFL head coach, Reid, 66, boasts an impressive career record of 258-144-1 in the regular season and a 26-16 record in playoff appearances.
Reid’s NFL coaching legacy began in 1999, and over the years, he has become known for his remarkable leadership and strategic acumen. However, with advancing age and previous health concerns, including heart palpitations, the revered coach is looking toward retirement. The Chiefs’ journey back to Super Bowl glory appears fraught with challenges, not least of which is maneuvering the high costs associated with retaining key players under the salary cap.
The financial burden of Patrick Mahomes’ significant contract, initially signed in 2020, has begun to impact the Chiefs’ roster management. Mahomes, one of the league’s standout quarterbacks, restructured his deal to earn $208.1 million from 2023-2026, but the high cost has already led to the departure of stars such as Tyreek Hill and L’Jarius Sneed. Last season, these financial strains contributed to a notable decline in offensive production, marking the worst performance in terms of points and yards during the Mahomes-Reid era.
As the Chiefs stare down the need for a significant roster overhaul, Reid’s time and capacity to guide the team through another reconstruction phase are dwindling. Speculation about his retirement has swirled in the past, but the 2025 season sees those rumors becoming reality. With key players aging and off-field controversies adding to the challenges, a change in leadership appears imminent for the Chiefs.
Looking ahead, the Chiefs might consider various candidates for their next head coach. Mike Vrabel, known for his tenure with the Tennessee Titans, and Bobby Slowik, who recently showcased his offensive brilliance with the Houston Texans, are on the list.
Additionally, Bill Belichick’s experience and undiminished coaching passion make him an intriguing possibility, especially with an opportunity to chase another Super Bowl win, this time potentially with Mahomes. Ben Johnson, another name with a rising profile for his offensive strategies, could find the opening in Kansas City a perfect match.
As Andy Reid prepares to close this chapter of his illustrious coaching career, the Kansas City Chiefs face a period of transition and adjustment. With Reid at the helm for one final season, the team and its fans will look to celebrate his legacy while also turning their sights to the future and the promises it may hold.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid has message for NFL after wacky schedule for 2024 season
Patrick Mahomes also isn’t too worried about how tough his schedule might be
“Any given Sunday” might still be a saying for the NFL, but games have expanded well beyond just one day a week. Just ask the Kansas City Chiefs and their 2024 schedule.
When the NFL schedules released earlier this month, the Chiefs saw themselves playing every single day of the week at some point during the year except for Tuesday.
How is that possible? Well, the Chiefs are playing in every single primetime slot, which includes “Thursday Night Football” and “Monday Night Football.” But they’re also playing Black Friday, a Saturday game in Week 16, and we can’t forget about Christmas Day, which lands on a Wednesday this year.
Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks with the media after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
While it may be a wacky schedule to look at — the Chiefs are also playing at 4:25 p.m. or later in 14 of their 17 games — head coach Andy Reid had a message for the NFL when reporters asked about it.
“It’s the first time in my career that this has happened, it’s unique, and you know how we are. We don’t really care,” Reid said matter of factly, via a Chiefs transcript.
“They can give us a Tuesday game if they want, and we’ll be okay there, too,” Reid said. “We work through it, we’ll play anybody, anywhere, whatever they want to do. We’re on board.”
The Chiefs are obviously must-watch football, especially as they look to achieve a feat no other NFL team has done before them: Win three straight Super Bowls.
Kansas City has eight standalone games this season, one of which being the league’s opener on NBC against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 5. The Chiefs will also be seen on CBS quite a lot, with a league-high eight games on the network.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Miami Dolphins Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
But Patrick Mahomes likes the bright lights in prime-time games, and while he knows the schedule gets harder and harder by the year because of it, the expectation of winning remains the same.
“I feel like our schedule has gotten crazier and crazier every single year,” Mahomes said last week to reporters. “It’s just about preparing for the week ahead of you. We know that we’re going to have a lot of prime-time games. We’ve built up the equity to be able to be in those games.”
The Chiefs always have many eyes on them, and through the ups and downs, the spotlight never fades. However, when you want to make NFL history, that’s just the way things are.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid looks on from the sidelines during Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, NV. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
